Car rental in Europe without a deposit. Car rental in Europe

Today, few people are surprised by road trips - this type of vacation largely justifies its costs with convenience, the ability to come up with a wide variety of routes and, accordingly, expand the geography of travel. Many Russians like to make a road trip to the south of their country, but the farther, the more popular the practice of renting a car in Europe and large, self-organized trips around the Old World.

Of course, in different parts of the world, things are different with car rental, but car rental in Europe always guarantees reliability, although this reliability often costs a lot. However, the cost of car rental is quite adequate, if you take into account the cost of travel in Europe by public transport. And if you are traveling with a company, then car rental in Europe will definitely be more profitable than traveling on the same trains. In addition, in developed tourist countries, you can, relatively speaking, rent a car in Berlin, and rent it at the office of the same rental office in southern Spain.

Car rental search

Most road trips are made by Russians inside the Old World, so the issue of renting a car in Europe is quite acute for many. What are the requirements for drivers in a particular country? What nuances should be remembered while driving on European roads? There are many such questions.

Each country has its own characteristics regarding car rental, first of all, we are talking about age restrictions, as they can differ markedly even in neighboring countries.

So, the age of the driver, who can rent a car abroad, should be at least 18, and at the maximum - 25 years. Each rental office has its own age restrictions. For example, in Germany, you can rent a car from SIXT if you are over 18 years old, and from Budget only if you are over 21 years old. Often, car rental agencies may require young drivers (under 25) to pay an additional fee, on average 15-17 euros per day.

If you book a car through aggregator sites such as Rentalcars.com, then note the age of the driver. The young driver fee will be shown after you select the vehicle on the website.

As for a driver's license, in a number of countries it is enough to present a national license issued at least one year ago, where your name will be written in Latin. There should also be an inscription PERMIS DE CONDUIRE. But in the UAE, England, Italy, France and Greece, you need to have an international driver's license (IDP). In the absence of such - a fine. It is also worth noting that IDPs are not valid without the original rights of your country.

Some rental companies can give you a car without presenting an IDL, but in this case, the rental price can be significantly overstated.

When renting a car, you need to carefully study all the clauses of the contract, especially those related to insured events, rental periods, various restrictions imposed by the rental office, etc. Despite the fact that this is civilized Europe, the car should be carefully examined for damage and scratches and , if any, to fix in the contract. By the way, in Southeast Asia, such a procedure must be carried out without fail, photographing all the damage.

It would be useful to ask about the peculiarities of driving in a particular European country, because, whatever one may say, the Germans and, say, the Greeks drive completely differently. Naturally, it is imperative to study certain nuances in the traffic rules of those countries through whose territory the travel route runs. Also, when planning a trip, you should always keep in mind that there are quite a lot of toll roads in Europe, and accordingly, make adjustments either to the route or to the budget. In addition, fuel prices in Europe are not like Russian ones, and gasoline will be a very impressive expense item. The same goes for parking in major European cities, which is rarely free.

The Fly & Drive system is very popular in Europe, the essence of which is to get a car for rent immediately upon arrival at a particular European airport, which can significantly save time (no need, for example, to look for an agency in the city itself). The standard rules of rental companies apply here.

Many advise to prepare in advance a car rental via the Internet on the websites of trusted companies that have their offices in dozens of countries around the world. These companies include: Avis, Herz, Sixt, Europcar, Budget and others. It is also best to print the voucher in advance in order to present it to the rental company upon arrival and avoid all sorts of troubles.

The cost of car rental in Europe

The cost of car rental in Europe depends on many factors. For example, there is a general rule of trade - wholesale is cheaper. That is, if you rent a car for one or two days, then the cost of each rental day will be higher than if you rent the same car, say, for a week. The approximate cost of car rental in Europe is shown below. The cost is given for cars of the most budget class (subcompact) subject to booking for a week:

However, the easiest way to check the cost for your dates and according to your requirements is to use the search form above, or on the Rentalcars.com website.

SDA in Europe

One way or another, the rules on the roads are not fundamentally different from Russian ones - the same signs, markings and general concepts. There are just some nuances that are better to study before traveling to specific countries, you can find them in our articles about car rental in specific countries, links to them are given below. For example, there are average general lanes for left turns, tricky cameras that turn on red lights if your average speed is higher than allowed, turn right at a red traffic light, and some others. However, the basic principles are defined by international conventions and are the same for almost all countries of the world.

You can also read about paying for roads depending on the country in the specific material below, we note only such a nuance as vignettes. These are special stickers that are bought and pasted on the car at the entrance to the country, thus paying for the movement on the roads of this state. Lack of a vignette can lead to a very serious fine. At the moment, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Bulgaria and Austria have such a system on their roads. Vignettes are required for driving on motorways, so if you prefer not very high-speed roads between villages, then in many cases you can do without this fee.

Traveling around Europe in a rented car has a lot of advantages. You plan your route and time yourself, you can change the direction of movement at any time, you choose places to rest on your own. Choosing a cheap car rental in Europe is quite simple.

Traveling by car is much more comfortable and interesting than by sightseeing buses and trains. For those who can't accept a "high-security" vacation with someone's scheduled check-out time, stops, and sites worth exploring, car rental is the perfect solution. A company of like-minded people who decide to drive around the country in a rented car will save a decent amount.

Many do not even think about renting a car abroad, as they are sure that this service is expensive. We argue that with proper planning, this way of traveling will be budget friendly. To get started, select a car class, the cheapest cars are class A. Rental companies set their own prices, but most operators adhere to the following classification:

• Economy (Fiat Panda, Toyota Yaris)
• Family (Ford Focus, VW Passat, Alfa 147)
• Estate (VW Passat SW, Nissan Qashqai)
• People carriers (Fiat Ducato).
• Sport (Ferrari, Porsche)

Documentation

Rental services in different countries have their own requirements for documents, but the general rules apply throughout Europe:

• The age of the driver is over 21 years old.
• International driving license.
• Bank card operating in the international payment system.

You can check the list of requirements on the website of a particular company.

From whom to rent

You can choose between large international and local companies.

• International services: Avis, Sixt, Advantage, Budget, Thrifty, Europcar.
• Discounter companies: Easycar, GoldCar, etc.
• Or, compare prices immediately in all systems on the site.

Renting from a discounter allows you to save a lot, but serious and sudden complications are not ruled out. For example, you may be charged €20 for an unwashed car upon return, and prices may increase several times with increased demand for cars.

The most famous discounter is Easycar, which has more than 2,000 rental points in almost all European countries. The popularity of this company is explained by attractive prices – you can pick up a car for €25 per day. Read the contract carefully before signing, especially the fine print - it often contains a lot of interesting things about additional services that you can do without.

The range of prices in large companies can be large, but in any case, the rent will cost you 25% more than a discounter. The advantages of such companies cannot be denied - you will receive a new car with 24/7 support, and you will be able to return the car to any of the many rental offices within the country.

How to book

• Go to the site and compare car rental prices in all services and companies at once.
• Aggregator services that receive commissions for their services act as an intermediary between the company and the consumer. The price of the aggregator and the company may differ up or down, so when you choose a car, check the price on the company's website, it may be more profitable for you to rent a car directly from them.
• Start booking as early as possible.
• The rental price directly depends on the period, which must be at least a week: a three-day rental costs, for example, €100, and a weekly rental costs €170.
• Another way to save money is to return the car to the same point where you picked it up.
• Rent a car never guarantees that you will receive a car that you have chosen from a photo - you will receive a car of the same class.
• Pay attention to the additions to the contract, they can significantly change the terms of the lease. For example, the contract may specify a limited mileage condition, which means that you will have to pay extra for each kilometer over the limit. Also, additional options may contain a record of a full tank of gasoline when returning the car, the age of the driver or a child seat, which must be paid separately.
• When inspecting the car, evaluate the condition of the tires, the interior, the level of gasoline in the tank. Remarks should be recorded in the protocol, otherwise you risk paying for all the shortcomings when returning the car.

Insurance

Please read the terms and conditions of insurance before placing an order. Pay special attention to the deductible limiting your liability. The lower the deductible, the better - in the event of an accident or breakdown of the car, your compensation will be less.

• Fixed franchise. Such insurance is called CDW (Collision Damage Waiver). Your liability cannot exceed a certain amount specified in the contract. For large companies, the franchise can reach €800.
• Zero deductible (Super Collision Damage Waiver). The ideal option - in the event of a breakdown, you owe nothing.
• Limited liability for theft (Theft Protection - TP).
• Compensation in case of an accident (Personal Accident Insurance). A type of health insurance that is only valid if the damage occurs while you are in or getting out of the vehicle.

How to return a car

You can return the car at the airport, at the entrance to which there should be a Car Return sign. Find the parking lot of the right company and contact the worker who should check the condition of the car and the level of gasoline in the tank. Try to be present during the inspection and completion of the delivery document. If there are no claims, you will be given an appropriate document, which is recommended to be kept along with receipts and insurance policy for a month.

If you rent a car after hours, leave it in the parking lot, and put the keys and documents in a special box. Take a picture of the car so that the place is recognizable, the number and date are read.

How to save

Carefully develop the route - rental costs depend on the country of start. The minimum prices in European countries are different, we have selected prices for small cars in the most visited cities based on a 10-day rental.

The cheapest car will cost in Rome, Cyprus, Tenerife and Barcelona. The most expensive cities: Geneva, Vienna and Nice. But in a car rented in Germany, France or Austria, you can cross the borders, and in Italian and Spanish you will be allowed to travel only within the country.

Transparent borders between:

• Andorra
• Belgium
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Monaco
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Great Britain

It is almost impossible to leave the Eastern European countries in a rented car, but with great desire and perseverance, you can catch a company that allows you to travel outside the country.

An additional cost option is GPS. In practice, any smartphone will replace this device for you if you install the appropriate application in advance.

A car with an automatic transmission will cost you 20 percent more.

Traffic rules in Europe are strictly observed, and their violation entails hefty fines. You will save a lot of money if you study local laws. Remember that all roads are video-recorded, and do not indulge yourself in the illusion of impunity. For example, the wrong transportation of children will cost €200 in Spain, €60 in Germany, and €80 in Greece. In the United Kingdom, the penalty for repeated violation of the rules will be 500 pounds (about 50 thousand rubles).

British strictness does not seem the greatest evil when faced with the freemen that reign on Italian and Greek roads, where running a red light in the absence of pedestrians is not considered even a small sin.

The parking lots in big cities are always full and the price for one hour is about €2, and the traffic is so dense that you spend too much time moving from one monument to another. It is more convenient to move around the metropolis by public transport, leaving the car in a parking lot away from the historical center.

• Travel by car with a company - by breaking the bill, you will save money and be able to communicate along the way.
• When accepting the car, carefully inspect it and compare the existing damage (scratches, dents) with those specified in the contract.
• When you hand over the car, make sure that there is no new damage. If the car is rented with a limited mileage condition, pay attention to the numbers entered by the company employee.
• The contract usually offers options: collection and return with a full tank and purchase of a full tank / return with balances. The first option is always more profitable.

Europe is ready to offer its guests a well-developed car rental business. Many resort to these services in order to save time and money, as the cost of taxis and public transport is sometimes unjustified. Traveling with a company in a rented car generally becomes profitable.

Rental points are open in almost all European cities. Large networks offer customers to take cars in one city and return them in another, which allows them to travel freely according to their plan. Transnational companies even practice car delivery in another country. Rental options can be chosen for every taste, taking into account personal preferences and monetary restrictions.

What you need to know about car rental in Europe?

There are a lot of nuances that should be considered when concluding a car rental agreement.:

Car rental

Many companies allow you to rent cars during non-working hours. It happens this way: you leave the car in some place and notify the manager of the company by phone. What might be the consequences of such actions? Getting a bill for extra time using the machine and finding any damage on it that was not caused by you, since the condition check was carried out without an interested party.

Multinational companies allow customers to rent cars at odd hours using special terminals installed in parking lots in front of their office. To do this, you should report the address of the terminal where you drove the car. In this case, under the contract, you will be personally responsible for it until the opening of the office.

Many companies allow you to rent cars during non-working hours.

Rental conditions

Each European country sets its own rental conditions. Big differences are related to age restrictions:

1. From 18 years old will give a car for hire in Germany, Sweden, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia.
2. From 19 years old in Estonia and Norway.
3. From 20 years old in Bulgaria, Finland and Switzerland.
4. From 21 years old– in all other European countries except Luxembourg.
5. From 25 years old- in Ireland.

An elite-class car can be obtained almost everywhere only from the age of 24, and then with a driving experience of at least one or two years. Young drivers under the age of 25 without driving experience will have to pay an additional amount of money, which is a guarantee for the rental company.

The minimum rental time is a day. If the car was returned an hour later, you will have to pay in full for the second day. In small firms, they can turn a blind eye to being late.

Cheap car rental - how to arrange an inexpensive trip without a deposit?

You can save money at the car arena by booking it via the Internet. The sooner this is done, the less you will have to pay for the service.

Small firms provide relatively inexpensive rental services. They charge less by about $15 per day, but you have less guarantees in this case. It is more profitable for frequent travelers to use the offers of a single international company in order to receive discounts and bonuses.

Rentals without a deposit can only be found in small companies, but it is better to study the reviews and advice of those who used their services.

Insurance and franchise

Typically, companies offer several types of insurance:

Regular insurance costs about $13 per day. Drivers aged 21-25 will be charged more money. If you want to drive a rented car to another country, you must pay for an extended insurance package, which will also be valid there. This is an additional 7 - 13 dollars per day.

All-inclusive franchise reimbursement insurance is quite expensive ($380 - $2,300 depending on the country and company). Clients rarely issue it, but it completely limits their liability. Such insurance is justified with little driving experience and a trip to a large city. Having issued it, the client can be sure that the distributor will not be able to demand more than the amount paid for the franchise, even if the car is not subject to repair after an accident.

Each European country has its own rental conditions.

The best car rental companies

The companies that are proven to fulfill their obligations include the following:

• europcar,
• budget,
• Sixt,
• avis,
• Hertz.

They provide the opportunity to book and pay for a car via the Internet, introduce all types of insurance and their requirements even before booking, allow you to drive cars abroad and rent them in another country, offer additional services (rental of a navigator, child seats, etc.).

Car rental services and aggregators

Trusted services that allow you to compare offers from different companies, according to user reviews, include the following: rentalcars.com, carrentals.com, economycarrentals.com, traveljigsaw.ru. The Avtorentovik aggregator shows free cars taking into account the desired address, showing it on the map.

Documents for car rental

The client must have the following package with him:

• international passport;
• driving license (national or international);
• credit card.

The cost of fuel and gas stations

Fuel in Europe is expensive. Gasoline 95 and 98 costs, depending on the country, 1-2 dollars per liter, diesel - 50 cents - 1.5 dollars.

At gas stations, there is a system for pre-refueling a car, in which the required amount of fuel is first poured, after which it is paid. Most often, the customer is served by a gas station employee. In some countries, there are automatic gas stations where fuel is cheaper.

traffic rules and fines

Traffic rules in Europe are almost the same as ours. Let's highlight some features:

1. Turning on the emergency flasher during emergency braking.
2. The speed limit varies by country. In Poland, this is usually 70 km/h, as the roads pass through settlements. There are no restrictions on the German autobahns. In France and other countries - 130 km / h, and during a rainstorm 110 km / h.
3. When driving on "mountain" autobahns on steep descents and ascents, an additional lane was made for cars that cannot move at high speed. You should drive along them if the engine is not powerful or the car is loaded.
4. In the UK, Austria, Cyprus, traffic is on the left side of the road. Is it possible we have already told, and information about the conditions for renting a car in Cyprus.
5. In Italy, trams always have the advantage on the road.

Fines in Europe are high. You will have to pay $ 25 for talking on a mobile phone, $ 25-250 for exceeding the speed limit by 20 km / h, depending on the country, $ 250-2000 for drunk driving, $ 350 for not wearing a seat belt, violation of parking rules from $ 25.

Our cozy editorial staff decided to take a ride through Transylvania during the March holidays, so to speak, to inspect the possessions of Vlad Tepes. Since the country is compact and the distances between cities are small, you can comfortably travel around Romania by bus and train. But after all, you can see much more by car, without being tied to a schedule, ... we drew these plus 100,500 pluses in favor of an individual vehicle and did not make a mistake in choosing.

And since we have traveled to many countries of the world in rented cars, now we will tell you on the example of Romania, how and where to book a carin any European country and around the world. At the beginning, a brief theoretical educational program, and then a review of how it went on the spot.

1. international passport.

2. Driver's license national standard.

There is no need to make a separate International VU if yours has a translation into English of the name and surname, and it is also clear to drive which category of vehicles you are allowed. If you really need an IDP so badly, the easiest way to get it is through the State Services portal. But again, this is not necessary.

3. Age and experience of the driver.

Most rental companies have minimum age requirements - from 23 years old and experience from three years. This does not mean that if you are 20 or have little experience, no one will give you a car for rent. It's just that the number of offers will be limited, and those companies that offer a lease will make a risk premium.

4. Credit card.

The card must be a credit card, not a debit card with enough money (and enough is how much? Read on).

Even if you think and are sure that your card is a debit card, most likely you are mistaken. Almost all Russian banks issue exactly credit cards, they just have zero credit and they are counted as debit cards. You can check your map here bindb.com. Enter only first 6 digits of your card (BIN).

For example, a Tinkoff black debit card. Yes, it is debit, but in fact it is credit :).

Now most car rental companies make sure to check the card in a similar or similar way. But it is better to have a normal credit card with a limit. Why do you need to block your money when you can bank - funds are not debited from the account, at the end of the lease the amount is unlocked, everything is free.

When to book - in advance or search upon arrival

In advance. Of course, you can start bypassing the offices of rental companies upon arrival, but you definitely don’t bargain for cheaper, and most likely you rent even more expensive. You will not be able to compare and choose offers from all distributors - local and network.

Where is the best place to rent a car

There are two types of car rental companies - international network and local car rental companies. International chains - Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt, Dollar and others, have offices in many countries. You usually meet their offices at airports.

The advantages of renting from network rental companies: a unified policy and quality standards for customer service, a larger selection of cars. The disadvantage is primarily the price. You pay for the brand. Local companies are more loyal to the client.

It is profitable to rent a car through a broker - the cost will be lower than contacting a rental company directly. The broker receives a significant discount from the distributors for advertising them, selling large pools. Even if you compare prices and see that the cost will be the same, the broker always includes some delicious bonus in his offer - a free second driver, a discount on a full CASCO, a free car upgrade.

We recommend among brokers Rental Cars-, and - world leaders in car rental. If you need a car in Montenegro, Georgia, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Crimea - a great company with excellent support.

• Do not miss:

Car rental insurance

When concluding a car rental agreement, you must also clarify about insurance. Everyone knows that we have OSAGO and CASCO, we think we also know how they work, we will not explain. Abroad, it's not much different. There are several types of insurance.

1. TLP (Third Leability Protection) or TPL (Third Party Liability) - car insurance for third parties affected by your fault. In Russia, this is called OSAGO. This insurance is included in the price initially. Without it, the car is not issued.

2. CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) – rental car damage insurance. More familiar to us CASCO, but without the risk of theft insurance. At the same time, it should be noted that this type of insurance involves a mandatory deductible (denoted in the contract as EXCESS). That is the limit of liability that you share with the insurer. Uncovered loss.

What does it mean. For example, a deductible of 500 euros, you scratched a car for 100 euros - the repair is completely at your expense, you hit it for 900 euros - you pay only 400.

3. SCDW (Super Collision Damage Waiver) - CASCO without a franchise. That is, item 2 CDW with fully covered expenses. If you hit a car, scratched it, don't pay anything to anyone. They returned the keys, waved to the distributor and flew home.

4. TW (Theft Waiver) or TP (Theft Protection) - protection against theft.

5. LDW - CDW + TW - that is, item 2 + item 4 - car insurance against damage and theft, but with a deductible.

6. SLDW is a super CASCO, covers all expenses, both with damage and theft. Everything that happens to the car is at the expense of the insurance company.

7. PAI and SPAI (Personal Accident Insurance and Super Personal Accident Insurance) - insurance that covers damage to the health of the driver and passengers. It is clearly superfluous, since you already have a life insurance policy for people traveling abroad.

Lots of abbreviations but remember the main thing — TLP(according to our OSAGO) is already included. And then you need to choose - LDW or SLDW. That is, CASCO with or without a franchise. CASCO with a franchise is most likely already included in the price. The deductible amount is the insurance deposit that the rental company will block on your card until the car is returned.

The franchise amount for most European countries is very large - about 1000 euros for economy class cars.

If you choose CASCO without a franchise, be prepared for a very, very thorough inspection of the car. Fix absolutely all scratches in a special form, even those that may seem insignificant to you. Examine every centimeter of the car before signing the acceptance certificate. Because when you return the car, the manager will show you every scratch that is not recorded in the act as yours and you will have to pay for the damage. Do not count on the fact that you will get off with the cost of polishing the element, you will be billed as for replacing the element. It's really very expensive.

If you are ready to pay full CASCO on the spot, get ready for the fact that it will be very expensive, perhaps even more than the cost of the rental itself.

What else to look for when renting a car

Fuel level in the tank. You must return it with the same level and back. Do not agree to any other conditions! They took it with a full tank, return it with a full one, 2/3 means 2/3.

The need for permission to travel to neighboring countries. If you are traveling inside the Schengen area, you can freely cross borders here (because there are none). If you want to go from Romania to Hungary or Bulgaria, from Slovenia to Croatia, etc. - you must check this with the rental company in advance. Not everyone allows it, most likely it will cost extra money.

Instructions - How to rent a car

And now, armed with all this knowledge, we rent a car.

1. Machine selection.

The first thing we start with is the RentalCars website. Specify the place of receipt, dates, time of receipt and return. It is very important to accurately indicate the time of the return of the car, if you are late and overdue by 1 hour, you may be charged for an additional day of rent.

You can rent a car right at the airport and in the city center. What's better. Here you must first find out where your hotel is, whether it has free parking, if not, try to find out how much parking costs nearby (you can write to the hotel). And it is better to immediately select a hotel with parking so that there are no unforeseen expenses. Of the benefits - you do not spend money on travel from the airport to the hotel and you have a car. The cost of renting a car at the airport will probably be even cheaper than if you pick it up from an office in the city center. Some local car rental companies can bring it to your hotel, which is also convenient.

We need a car at the airport. And we need the most economical, cheapest option. Remember, when booking a car, the rental company does not guarantee you exactly that brand and that color! It is the class of the car that is booked, and in fact, instead of Polo, you can get Volkswagen Golf, Renault Clio, Toyota Micro, Aigo, etc.

In 50% of cases, the distributors, already in place, upon signing the contract, upgrade the class of the car for free!

And pay attention to what a ridiculous price of rent in the off-season - only $ 5 per day! And there are also offers for 1 euro!

Please note the following before booking:

2. You can change and cancel a booking made through RentalCars completely calmly and without any penalties up to 48 hours before the start of the rental. That is why we recommend booking immediately, rather than saving for the future.

And here it’s just about insurance – coverage in case of theft and accidents. Move the mouse and read.

The franchise is indicated in the rental conditions (here is where the distributor's logo is in the picture above). And we read “The deductible in case of damage to this car is 1011.50 €, including local tax. The deductible in case of theft of this car is 1011.50 €, including local tax.”

So this is the amount we need to have on a credit card. It will be blocked at the signing of the contract.

3. There are some companies that limit the mileage, for example, 120 km per day, and then 1 km for some money. There is no such thing here, by the way, if you go to the KLASS WAGEN website, there for some types of cars the mileage is just limited, but unlimited for money.

4. This is another bonus from RentalCars. As a rule, an additional driver costs money. And if you booked directly on the distributor's website, you would be charged for it. Here it's free.

Further, there will be detailed information about your choice and about the distributor. Some rental companies have offices at airports, and some have offices nearby, 1-2 km away, and therefore they meet you and take you to their place for free, and then back to the airport. There is no need to be afraid of this, you will have a representative’s contact phone number, you will definitely meet, since it is in their own interests first of all.

RentalCars cooperates on insurance with and you can buy such a policy immediately when booking a car. But note that the broker wants as much as 20 bucks a day for this! This is as much as $140 for the entire rental period. 4 times more expensive than the cost of the rental itself. Definitely choose here "Go to booking with Basic coverage".

If you calculate the cost of such a policy on the site, it will come out to $66.

All in all - we do not buy insurance on RentalCars, but we go to and arrange everything there.

We complete the booking by making an advance payment or paying in full. After a couple of minutes, we check the mailbox (electronic of course). There will be an email with a link to the voucher. The voucher contains detailed information about what you have booked, what is included in the rental, where you will be met, contacts, in general, everything you need.

2. We arrange insurance

3. Receipt of the car

The representative of the company met us at the airport and took us to the office.

The process of receiving the car took a short time. An employee of the company with printed documents was already waiting for us, so no time was wasted on this. We were told again what exactly we had booked, and then the sale of insurance began. This is more than half of the company's income, so they will be very persistent in selling it to you.

The girl showed us some terrible pictures, just like on packs of cigarettes, only about cars, told terrible things and life events: touched the door with her fingernail - repair 200 euros, rubbed the bumper - 600 euros. Don't fall for it! You will really be intimidated and persuaded to buy insurance, in our case, only 167 euros. Even if you say that you have such insurance, only issued in another company, the employee will find something to object to you. In our case, you will not be allowed out of the country until the car is repaired. Don't believe!

We still upgraded the car for free to a brand new, seven-seat Volkswagen Turan. Such a mother-mobile, for a large family.

We sign a contract, 1100 euros are blocked on the card.

An important step is to inspect the car for damage. Look very carefully. Turn everything on, insist on absolutely all scuffs, inspect even where it seems to you that there can be no damage - the roof, for example. If they tell you it's okay, turn it on anyway. Even more thoroughly they will inspect the car when you return it - this is also their source of income, of course, no one will repair every scratch.

And do not forget to inspect the interior for cigarette-burned seats, chewing gum, and so on.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Europe, in which European countries is it cheaper and easier to do it, is it possible to cross the borders of other European countries on a rental car, nuances and pitfalls, pros and cons, and also how to save money when renting a car in Europe. .. In this article - answers to all questions plus rating of the best countries in Europe for renting a car.

Many novice travelers, even those with their own car and long driving experience, are at first intimidated by the prospect of renting a car abroad... As a rule, they are confused by the process of renting and paperwork, foreign traffic rules and fines, the cost of rent or gasoline, traffic or Left side traffic...

We were also a little embarrassed by all this, until we first rented a car in Bulgaria. Since then, we have enjoyed traveling around Europe both in our own car and renting a car in many countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa: from Bulgaria and Spain to Malaysia and Zanzibar...

Turns out it's not scary at all.

But it’s better to start, all the same, not from the countries of Southeast Asia or Africa, but from Europe With the exception of Great Britain, the usual right-hand traffic is everywhere here, in most European countries there are good roads, familiar and understandable rules, signs and markings, predictable traffic and driving style of motorists. And the prices for car rental in many European countries are much cheaper than other countries...

Read in the article:

How much does it cost to rent a car in Europe?

So, how much does it cost to rent a car in Europe? Depending on the country, region, car rental company and rental period, the minimum car rental cost mini or economy class can start from 5 before 50 euro per day and reach in some countries and rental companies up to 2000 euro per day for a premium or luxury car, during the high season and for a short period of time!

Moreover, when renting a car, consider not only the rental price! Do not forget about the rating of the company, the terms of rental and insurance, as well as such important figures as the amount of the deposit for the car, the size of the franchise, fuel prices, the amount of fines...

Usually, amount of collateral (deposit) in different European countries varies from 100 before 2000 euro for an inexpensive mini, economy or middle class car. The franchise amount can vary from 100 before 3000 Euro. And the cost of 95 gasoline from Europe is from 1,15 before 1,75 Euro...

As we can see, the range of prices for both car rental and amounts for other parameters is simply huge! Where is cheaper?

In which European countries is car rental cheaper?

On many major popular travel portals you can find information that the cost of renting a car in European countries allegedly is NO LESS than 20-60 euros per day!.. This is complete nonsense, and the people who write this information are banal copywriters or ordinary tourists, but not real travelers! In the best case, such information will be close to reality if you rent a car not in advance, but on the spot, without comparing prices, for a short period and in the "hottest season"...

The cheapest place to rent a car is in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, Czech Republic, Latvia, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus... In these countries, the rental price starts from 5-10 euro per day.

In Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Turkey, the cost of car rental starts from 10-15 euro per day.

In countries such as Great Britain, Finland, Belgium, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, it is possible to rent a car from 15-20 euro or a little more.

But I repeat, it is important to take into account not only the cost of rent, but also the rating of the rental company, rental and insurance conditions, deposit and franchise amounts, fuel prices, etc. car - is it interesting and is there a place to go Therefore, we, the authors of the Traveler's Diary blog, have compiled a rating of the best countries in Europe, where it is cheaper, more interesting and easier to rent a car and get around in a rented car...

Rating of the best countries in Europe for car rental

The numbers and conditions we found are easy to check on the comparison site and online car rental bookingcar.eu. See for yourself:

Montenegro took the second place from the middle of the list, after the writing of this article and after our insanely exciting autotrip around this country ... It happened, thanks to the personal experience of renting a car in Montenegro through the "Sit and go" company:

"Sit down and drive" in Montenegro offer a very cheap car rental from 9 euros per day without any deposit (deposit) and prepayment, without cheating and imposed insurance!

1 Bulgaria

The cost of renting a car is from 5 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.15 euros. Deposit 100-600 euros. Franchise 150-600 euros. Mileage is unlimited. The minimum driver age is 21-25 years old. On request, travel to other European countries is possible. The best car rental company in Bulgaria - Top Rent a Car.

2 Montenegro

The cost of renting a car is from 9 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.41 euros. Deposit 0-1200 euros. Franchise 0-1200 euros. Mileage is unlimited. The minimum driver age is 21-26 years old. Departure to other countries is almost always allowed by rental companies. Most rental companies have a good rating! The cheapest rental without collateral, prepayment and deceit - in the rental company "Sit" n "Go", we recommend!

3 Turkey

The cost of renting a car from 13 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.16 euros. Deposit 100-1100 euros. Franchise 250-600 euros. Some rental companies have limited mileage. The minimum driver age is 21-23 years old. Travel to other countries is prohibited! Unfortunately, most car rental companies cannot boast of good reviews...

4 Cyprus

The cost of renting a car from 7 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.32 euros. Deposit 600-1500 euros. Franchise 500-900 euros. Mileage is unlimited. The minimum age of the driver is from 23-25 ​​years. Travel to other countries is not allowed! Almost all rental companies have a high rating.

5 Czech Republic

The cost of renting a car is from 10 euros per day. - Gasoline AI95 costs 1.26 euros. Deposit 700-3000 euros. Franchise 500-800 euros. Mileage is almost always unlimited. The minimum age of the driver is from 23-25 ​​years. Departure to other countries is almost always allowed by rental companies. Most rental companies have a high rating!

6 Croatia

The cost of renting a car is from 8 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.39 euros. Deposit 800-1400 euros. Franchise 800-1250 euros. Mileage is almost always unlimited. The minimum age of the driver is from 22-25 years. Departure to other countries is almost always allowed by rental companies. Most rental companies have a good rating!

7 Portugal

The cost of renting a car is from 6 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.66 euros. Deposit 300-2000 euros. Franchise 800-3000 euros. Mileage is sometimes limited. The minimum driver age is 21-25 years old. Departure to Spain and other countries is sometimes allowed by agreement.

8 Spain

The cost of renting a car is from 10 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.31 euros. Deposit 300-1200 euros. Franchise 900-1500 euros. Mileage is often limited! The minimum age of the driver is 25-26 years old. Many car rental companies in Spain operate on "Pre-Purchase Fuel with Reimbursement" and also overcharge for full insurance...

9 Italy

The cost of renting a car from 12 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.64 euros. Deposit 200-2000 euros. Franchise 900-3000 euros. Mileage is unlimited. The minimum driver age is almost always 25 years old. Departure outside the country is possible by agreement, and sometimes free of charge.

10 Greece

The cost of renting a car is from 10 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.64 euros. Deposit 400-2000 euros. Franchise 400-1500 euros. Mileage is unlimited. The minimum driver age is almost always between 21-23 years old. Sometimes prepaid fuel is practiced. Travel outside the country or to the islands is allowed extremely rarely by agreement

11 Hungary

The cost of renting a car is from 15 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.21 euros per liter. Deposit 300-1200 euros. Franchise 300-2500 euros. Mileage is almost always unlimited. The minimum driver age is 25 years. Departure to other countries is almost always allowed by agreement and for an additional fee. The market is dominated by local rental companies.

12 Switzerland

The cost of renting a car from 21 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.41 euros. Deposit 170-1300 euros. Franchise 1300-1700 euros. Mileage is unlimited. The minimum age of the driver is from 19-25 years. Departure to many countries of Western Europe is possible

13 France

The cost of renting a car is from 15 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.54 euros. Deposit 250-1300 euros. Franchise 900-1300 euros. Traveling abroad is almost always allowed. The minimum age of the driver is 25-26 years old. The allowable mileage is often limited by rental companies. Sometimes travel to other European countries is allowed.

14 Germany

The cost of renting a car is from 20 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.44 euros. Deposit 900-1250 euros. Franchise 800-1250 euros. Mileage is often limited. The minimum driver age is 25 years. Allowed to travel to many EU countries.

15 Austria

The cost of renting a car is from 21 euros per day. Gasoline AI95 costs 1.29 euros. Deposit 900-2000 euros. Franchise 800-2000 euros. Mileage is almost always unlimited. The minimum age of the driver is from 19-25 years. Departure is almost always allowed in Western Europe, sometimes at no extra charge...

*All figures are current at the time of writing.

Nuances and "pitfalls"

What to look for when renting a car in Europe: what are the nuances and "pitfalls"? Let's open an online car booking site for example bookingcar.eu, where all the conditions of rental companies are as clear and transparent as possible:

Rental company rating:

Pay attention to the rating of the rental company. We recommend booking a car in companies with a rating above 7-8 points. If the rating is 5-7 - show increased vigilance and attention. If the rating is below 5 - at your own peril and risk

Pickup location:

• In the terminal
• shuttle bus
• Meeting at the airport

When the office of the rental company is located in the airport terminal, this is the most convenient. Meeting at the airport - an employee will meet you with a sign and take you to the office of the rental company, which may be located at some distance from the airport terminal. The shuttle bus is the most inconvenient option, since you will have to wait for other customers and the scheduled departure of the minibus, spend time on the road to the rental company office and registration.

Fuel policy:

• Collection and return with a full tank
• The same amount when returning as when receiving
• quarter to quarter
• Half-Half
• Prepayment - when the client additionally pays for fuel, but the money for the fuel remaining after the rental is not returned to him!
• Pre-purchase of fuel with the possibility of reimbursement - when the client additionally pays for fuel + a non-refundable commission of 25-50 euros for refueling, but the money for the remaining fuel is returned to the client after the rental.

The first four options practically do not differ from each other and these are the most convenient and profitable options for the client. But the last two options are a frank "divorce" of the client for money and an attempt to attract a client with an allegedly low rental price ... Rental companies in Spain often use such tricks, for example.

Permitted mileage:

• Limited
• Is not limited

Unlimited mileage is good. And with limited mileage, the client pays a certain amount for each kilometer in excess of the allowed mileage.

Be sure to check before booking Important Information: conditions of protection against theft and damage, the size of the deductible and deposit. The deductible in case of damage or theft of a car is the amount that, in the event of an insured event, the client will have to pay in any case. The deposit is the amount that is frozen on the customer's card until the car is returned. The lower these amounts, the better for you!

Please note that in most cases the deposit can only be booked with a credit card. Debit cards are not accepted by rental companies.

Check the requirements for driver's age, driver's license (ID required), fuel policy, mileage, payments, deposits, insurance coverage, additional services, etc. ".

When concluding a contract at the office of the rental company, you will certainly be offered a Full (extended) insurance. Full insurance can save you from a deposit, deductibles, covers any accident, as well as damage to wheels, windows, headlights, mirrors, interior, damage from losing keys, paying for a tow truck, etc. and so on. Weigh the need for its registration, make a decision and check the correct execution of documents. Be careful when filling out documents, because some unscrupulous rental companies may try to "sell" you full insurance even without your consent...

When accepting a car, as well as during its subsequent delivery, very carefully in the presence of an employee of the rental company, check the car for damage and make sure that each existing damage is noted in the corresponding vehicle inspection report, signed and stamped in this document.

How to save money when renting a car?

1. Rent a car in advance, not on the spot upon arrival in the country
2. Book a car online by comparing prices and conditions on an aggregator site like bookingcar.eu
3. Choose car rental companies with good reviews and a high rating (at least 7-8 points)
4. Book a car for a long time - it's much more profitable
5. Try to rent a car not in the "hot season" - it will be much cheaper
6. Compact cars with manual transmission are the cheapest
7. Choose a fuel policy without prepayments and pre-purchase of fuel!
8. Choosing a car with a diesel engine, hybrid or electric car, you will save significantly on fuel
9. Choose car rental companies with minimum deductibles and deposits
10. To avoid surcharges, carefully study the requirements for the age and experience of the driver
11. If you are planning long trips, rent a car with no mileage limit
12. If you are planning to travel by rented car to other European countries, then check if it is possible in the selected rental company, their conditions and your additional costs
13. Do not allow additional services and insurance to be added to the contract without your knowledge
14. When paying or making a deposit, it is advisable to do it in the contract currency without any additional conversion services from the rental company.
15. When moving around the country, check local rules, try not to violate speed limits, parking rules and other traffic rules. Fines in many European countries are very high, and in addition to the fines themselves, the rental company can also charge you the amount of their service fees when paying them...

We hope you find our information and advice helpful. We wish you inexpensive and interesting autotrips in Europe!